Residents Return to Wang Fuk Court: Access Arrangements Proceed Smoothly Amid Support from Government Personnel

Government concludes eleventh-day arrangements for Wang Fuk Court residents returning to their units

Today (April 30) is the eleventh day of phased arrangements for residents of seven blocks of Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po to return to their units. Five low-zone floors of Wang Tai House and 10 middle-zone floors of Wang Kin House were opened. The access arrangements were carried out in an orderly manner and operated smoothly.

A total of 118 households (437 people) registered to return to their units today through the "one social worker per household" service, while 117 households (457 people) actually turned up.

The average time residents spent entering and leaving the building today was two hours and 25 minutes, with the shortest time being 14 minutes and the longest three hours and 40 minutes. About 77 per cent of the residents stayed in the building for less than three hours. About 27 per cent of the residents stayed in the building for less than two hours. About 4 per cent of the residents stayed in the building for less than one hour.

A total of 65 households (123 people) went up and down the building more than once. Among them, 25 households (55 people) made one additional trip, 26 households (48 people) made two additional trips, 11 households (15 people) made three additional trips, 2 household (3 people) made four additional trips, and 1 household (2 people) made five or above additional trips.

The integrated enquiry counter set up by relevant departments today received nine cases requesting police assistance and one case involving resident seeking help due to physical discomfort.

The nine cases requesting police assistance involved suspected loss of property, including watches, jewellery, cash and gold items. Officers were immediately deployed to assist in searches, and in one case, the unit concerned was severely damaged and residents believed after investigation that the property might have been destroyed by fire. In another five cases, there were no signs of ransacking in the units, and the residents could not provide details on the property concerned. For the remaining three cases, the Police will make further investigation.

The Government spares no effort in supporting the residents returning to their units. Each day, the Government deploys over 1 000 personnel from various departments, including the Police, the Civil Aid Service, the Fire Services Department, the Auxiliary Medical Service, the Home Affairs Department, the Social Welfare Department (SWD), the Housing Department, and the Housing Bureau, as well as District Services and Community Care Teams members. The "Government-wide Mobilisation" mechanism has also been activated to bring together greater interdepartmental resources to support residents.

Under the "Government-wide Mobilisation" mechanism, the Civil Service Bureau has co-ordinated nine government departments to mobilise civil servants to form the Government Quick Response Unit to support these access arrangements. These civil servants come from the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD), the Architectural Services Department (ArchSD), the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department (EMSD), the Environmental Protection Department, the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department, the Lands Department (LandsD), the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD), the Post Office, and the Water Supplies Department (WSD). They will form dedicated teams with social workers and clinical psychologists from the SWD, stationed on different floors to provide support to residents returning to their units. The civil servants mobilised in the first three days were from the AFCD, those mobilised from the fourth day to the sixth day are from the EMSD and the LCSD, those mobilised from the seventh day to the ninth day are from the LandsD and the WSD, while those mobilised from the tenth day to the twelfth day (including today) are from the Post Office and the ArchSD.

Government concludes eleventh-day arrangements for Wang Fuk Court residents returning to their units Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Government concludes eleventh-day arrangements for Wang Fuk Court residents returning to their units Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Government concludes eleventh-day arrangements for Wang Fuk Court residents returning to their units Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

DH responds to comments about alternative smoking products

In response to claims that prohibiting the possession of specified alternative smoking products (ASPs) in public places would deter tourists from visiting Hong Kong, a spokesman for the Department of Health (DH) today (April 30) issued the following statement:

Hong Kong has prohibited the import, sale and possession of ASPs for commercial purposes, including e-cigarettes and heat sticks since April 30, 2022. For the past four years, all inbound travellers, including tourists, have been legallybarred from bringing e-cigarettes and heat sticks into the city, and such products have not been available for purchase locally. The ban taking effect today simply extends regulation to cover possession in public places. In practice, no additional restrictions are being imposed on tourists.

Regarding suggestions that the new measure will discourage tourists from visiting Hong Kong, the spokesman stressed that such claims completely overlook the fact that the importation (including carrying into Hong Kong) and sale of e-cigarettes and heat sticks have already been banned for four years. Extending prohibition to possession will not affect tourists’ willingness to visit Hong Kong. Instead, it is the rumour-mongers who are spreading false information, misleading the public and visitors, causing unnecessary alarm and damaging Hong Kong’s reputation. The spokesman urged all sectors to work with the government to convey accurate information to tourists and prevent misleading messages from damaging Hong Kong’s image as a healthy travel destination.

The World Health Organization has clearly identified the health risks posed by e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products. Hong Kong is not alone in prohibiting ASPs. Currently, more than 30 jurisdictions worldwide ban e-cigarettes, and over 10 ban heated tobacco products. Thailand and Singapore implemented comprehensive bans as early as 2014 and 2018 respectively, without adverse impact on their visitor numbers. In fact, the number of tourists visiting Hong Kong have continued to rise from 2023 to 2025, demonstrating that public health protection and tourism development can coexist.

Members of the public and tourists may visit the website of the Tobacco and Alcohol Control Office (TACO) for detailed information and frequently asked questions. TACO has also adopted a multipronged publicity approach to disseminate relevant information to tourists, including:

producing promotional leaflets (see Annex) for tourists to help tourists to understand the new tobacco control measures. Relevant promotional materials are displayed and distributed at all border control points and visitor centres of the Hong Kong Tourism Board, ensuring that tourists are informed immediately upon arrival;

coordinating with the Shenzhen Municipal Health Commission, the Office of Port of Entry and Exit of Shenzhen Municipal People's Government, Shenzhen Customs District and Shenzhen General Station of Exit and Entry Frontier Inspection to strengthen the promotion of Hong Kong’s latest tobacco control measures at Shenzhen ports, including displaying information on large electronic screens on the mainland side of the ports;

coordinating with airlines to make in-flight announcements about the new measures; and

conducting promotional activities on social media, at boundary control points and at major tourist attractions to remind the public and visitors to comply with the law.

Hong Kong welcome visitors from all over the world to experience the city’s healthy and vibrant appeal.

DH responds to comments about alternative smoking products Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

DH responds to comments about alternative smoking products Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

DH responds to comments about alternative smoking products Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

DH responds to comments about alternative smoking products Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

DH responds to comments about alternative smoking products Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

DH responds to comments about alternative smoking products Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases